Most of the discussion regarding the plan to sell the Illinois Senate seat to the highest bidder has focused on the process. What is equally interesting are the many possibilities for getting rich that are open to a well-connected politician – especially one that has the ear of a President.
In the case of Blagojevich these include an interest in getting an appointment to the Red Cross, becoming the head of a private foundation dependent on federal funding. Becoming the leader of a union organization. There was also talk of getting himself or his wife appointed to a number of corporate boards, which usually are well paid for very little work. Also of great interest was setting up a 501 (c) (4) organization with the aid of wealthy supporters of Obama like Warren Buffet as a way of creating a pool of money that Blagojevich would run for his personal benefit while advancing his political aspirations.
What the Blagojevich complaint illustrates graphically is the potential for graft on a widespread scale in government. The scale of that graft expands exponentially as government grows and dispenses hundreds of billions, even trillions, of dollars. There is a lesson here that should inform the public about the ways that corruption goes hand-in-hand with public pools of money.
Also, note the focus on ways of making money illegally via so-called non-profit organizations. The Blagojevich complaint opened my eyes.
But nothing makes those cash registers ring like an appointment to right job in the UN.
dp- I didn’t think that was well known about my esteemed governor.
How things work here in Illinois are just too “special” for words.
There is a reason that the 2nd largest FBI office, outside of DC, is here. And it’s not for the weather.
The tax code allows all sorts of manipulation and “finder’s fees” to be hidden. From not-for-profit to laundered real estate valuations, it’s all good.
Well, get ready for the infrastructure dollars to be siphoned off. I didn’t know that the Freylinghausen Avenue subplot on the Sopranos was a documentary
This is ‘maybe’ the standard for politicians in the world. It seems that it doesn’t matter if they run democratic, socialist, communist or dictatorship governments. Placement of people, groups who forward their agenda, therefore placing into laws ‘for the benefit of the people’. This may reach the court system, if convicted he will right beside C. Black because he will not put in the general prison population. He is much to important of a person to mix in with the commoners.
KM – are comments OK now – all fixed?
Why didn’t he just do what Obama did when he wanted his wife’s pay tripled to something respectable? Get an earmark gran for her employer of five times the raise he was looking for? Everybody says Obama is so smart, and IQ of 142, but really, he just has the confidence to do the obvious thing.
And some people think that this kind of activity isn’t done everyday in every political office, within every political party, right across the continent.
Which is why all citizens should auger for smaller government and tax driven expenditures.
Ignorance isn’t bliss, it’s just ignorance.
Hmmmm – was he taken down now before O become really implicated?
Your point about corruption is somewhat overstated but well taken hardboiled, but Porter is right. Chicago is truely a special case, perhaps rivalled only by New Orleans.
Nothing gets done in Chicago without someone getting paid. Once that is understood, it is hard to believe that any politician could come from there who wasn’t corrupt to some extent.
The simple truth is that Obama never would have risen in Chicago politics if he gave so much as a hint that he was clean and wouldn’t play ball with the political establishment. His land deal with Rezko is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Illinois Finance Authority (“IFA”) was receiving close to $500,000/year from the Illinios State Senate Checkbook, and was created by Blago for Blago and was monitored by the Illinios Auditor General and the Illinios State Comptroller with Blago as the Acting Head Representative of IFA which he frigin created.
You are right Kate, these corrupt mother-less-sons are gona tell us the Auditor General and the State Comptroller were not aware of this fraud. They would be either lying, or collecting 10%.
If Blago can do this at the State level imagine what the US Senators are doing. I would venture to say there are 1,000 of Fraudulent Agencies out there earmarked for Federal Funds created by US Politicians.
This is the Tip of the Iceberg, and Illinios is the Titanic.
If McCain knew about this and didn’t use it then he must have been scared of the repercussions, that or they are all in on it.
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And just what political party did Governor Rod Blagojevich belong to? Sorry, I didn’t hear that. What Party was that? You’ll have to speak up; what Party?
Nada a word in the MSM about Party affiliation. Why; prey tell?
How much is Carolyn Kennedy paying for Hillary’s New York senate seat? How much of this will Hillary get?
[quote]What is equally interesting are the many possibilities for getting rich that are open to a well-connected politician –[/quote]
The Quick guide to successful graft would be Hillary’s resume.